Cricket: Central Districts Stags' welcome back George Worker, Adam Milne to fold

Opening batsman George Worker is back from another fruitless Black Caps' call-up but he will lift CD Stags' spirits against ND Knights in Whangarei today. Photo/John Velvin, ESPNZ

He got sent back from the Black Caps' white-ball team without playing against Bangladesh and now George Worker is back again from the side to face the touring West Indies.

But New Zealand's loss is the Central Districts Stags' gain as opening batsman Worker returns to his domestic tribe for round two of the Ford Trophy one-day match against the Northern Districts Knights at Cobham Oval, Whangarei, today.

CD, who lost their opening match to the Auckland Aces by five wickets at New Plymouth last Sunday, also welcome back fast bowler Adam Milne.

Milne returns after recovering from lower-back stiffness which also robbed him of a stint for the NZ A team against the Windies in a warm-up match in Christchurch last week.

The Manawatu bowler requires seven more scalps for a milestone 100 List A career wickets while Worker, who has carved up eight one-day centuries and 13 half tons for CD, is 60 runs shy of scoring 4000 List A career runs for all teams. He played for the Canterbury Kings for a few summers.

The only change to the Stags' squad of 13 from round one is the omission of 12th man and Manawatu seamer Navin Patel.

CD coach Heinrich Malan said in a statement the return of Worker and Milne was timely as they attempt to bounce back from a "shock loss" at Pukekura Park.

"We came up against a very good side first up but were disappointed not to have continued our strong recent results against them," Malan said.

"Now it's time for us to show that we are also one of the best sides in the 50-over format in New Zealand."

Tim Southee, returning to the Black Caps' fold for the second test on Saturday, is the only change in the ND squad.

■ CD STAGS: William Young (c), George Worker, Ben Smith, Jesse Ryder, Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver, Joshua Clarkson, Doug Bracewell, Adam Milne, Ben Wheeler, Bevan Small, Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner.

■ ND KNIGHTS: Dean Brownlie (c), Brent Arnel, James Baker, Anton Devcich, Brett Hampton, Nick Kelly, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Brett Randell, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, BJ Watling.